Blue Lagoon Spa Clinic in Iceland

Above and below, two of the natural pools at the Blue Lagoon Spa Clinic, in Iceland.

By Annie Tomlin.

Located only 20 minutes from Keflavik International Airport and 40 minutes from Reykjavik city center, the Blue Lagoon Spa in Iceland sits peacefully in the middle of a black lava field. The mist from the geothermal plant makes the place look like a Hollywood movie set or, with its glowing amber lights, a space station in a James Bond film.

Icelandic architect Sigridur Sigmarsdottir, of VA Arkitektar, used raw materials such as glass, wood, lava, and concrete to create the perfect modern structure for the location. Comprising 15 eco-friendly rooms, the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel is centered around healing geothermal waters that have been proven to heal psoriasis and other skin conditions. (The average guest comes for medicinal purposes.)

The spa is intelligently built around the bluish thermal water of the lagoon. After a mandatory shower, I walked to the pool area, separated from outdoors by a glass wall. I was surprised by how milky and warm the water was, and the ground beneath my feet was softer than velvet. When I reached down to grab it, my hand was covered in pure white silica, peppered with pearl-sized aqua algae—the perfect body mask!

Grounds surrounding the Blue Lagoon Spa Clinic. By Tatijana Shoan.

Bridges allow guests to cross the natural lagoons. By Tatijana Shoan.

The chic, modern restaurant, where spa-goers can enjoy a meal. By Tatijana Shoan.

Bathers in the lagoon. Steam keeps guests warm, even in the wintertime. By Tatijana Shoan.

Surrounding the natural lagoon are extensive pathways for guests to explore.

A pool at the spa.

One of the few manmade pools at the Blue Lagoon Spa Clinic. By Tatijana Shoan.

Outside, the air temperature was below zero, but the mist rising from the water kept my head warm. I counted roughly four to six bathers, but that seemed irrelevant, since anything more than a few feet away was indistinct in the steamy fog. I had a solitary experience as I gazed at the magenta sky, where the brume from the geothermal plant looked like fire as the sun rose behind it.

The spa's main building includes a restaurant, indoor and outdoor bars, a canteen, and a boutique selling everything from skin care to woolen sweaters. Rooms with a fireplace and private entry to the lagoon can be rented for the day. Within the lagoon are wooden vats of purified silica mud, so bathers can enjoy skin treatments as they swim in and out of lava grottoes and steam rooms. My hostess, Magnea, thoughtfully planned out my day with a seafood lunch followed by spa treatments.

In the lagoon, yet away from the other bathers, is where I met my masseuse, Larus. He had me climb on top of a floating yoga mat and covered me with a thermal blanket. With warm oil, he began my massage treatment, working from my feet to my shoulders and neck as I drifted in and out of sleep. A high point of this treatment was having my backside massaged without having to turn over, but, then again, I’ve never had a massage while floating on water.

Feeling lightheaded and blissful, I made my way to the outdoor bar located in the middle of the lagoon, which offers wine, beer, juice, and frozen facial treatments. The bartender recorded my bill by scanning my electronic bracelet and handed me three cups—a freshly squeezed lemon-ginger juice, a frozen lava-rock scrub mask, and a frozen algae mask. While sipping the juice, I exfoliated with the lava, then hydrated with the algae, and felt very far away from the rest of the world, which is precisely what you're looking for when you're at a spa.

As a side note, for years a team of scientists, dermatologists, and a pharmacist have been working with ingredients from the lagoon to develop a skin-care line, which is available for purchase at the clinic or online.

The Blue Lagoon Spa's modern architecture blends in with the striking landscape. By Tatijana Shoan.

That evening I marveled at my skin: glowing, soft, and hydrated. The sun had set and the temperature had dropped even further. From my window, I saw unforgettable green and purple lights flicker in the sky, twirling and dancing magically as only the spectacular Northern Lights of Iceland do.